Foldable vending tray for ice-cream cones and other articles



May 21, 1929. c. H. GOODYEAR. 13,96

FOLDABLE VENDING TRAY FOR ICE CREAM CONES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed April 19, 1928 17109076,; I '(AdF/l-l ter described which may Patented May 21, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. GOODYEAR,

or JPORTLAND, OREGON.

My invention relates stands or vending trays, especially adapted for'use in handling articles such as ice cream cones, cups of soda waters, and like articles.

Stores selling refreshments along the highways, are frequently called upon to serve ice cream cones or beverages to a number of persons driving up in an automobile, who prefer to be served without getting out; hence, if several trips between the store counter and the automobile are to be avoided,

some tray must be used capable of carrying enough cones, or cups, party at one time.

The principal object of my invention is therefore to provide a simple, inexpensive foldable vending tray, made ofcardboard or similar material, and adapted to be stored in quantities in a flat package, from which units of these vending trays may be taken as required.

Further, to provide a for serving all of the tray of the characbe cut out of a single sheet of light cardboard, or rial, by a single operation, without undue waste; and which may be readily set up for use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a vending tray of the character described which is' so cheap to manufacture that it may be thrown away after having once been used, or given away, for advertising purposes, for future use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a vending tray of the character described adapted, when set up, to be used also as a display stand for the articles to be sold.

' ()ne convenient way in which my invention may be carried into practice consists in providing a vending tray comprising a body made of a sheet of material composed of twosides and a top, making a triangle in cross section, the sides provided with integral end portions adapted to be folded outward perpendicular with the planes of the sidesand constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top provided with in-" tegral end extensions adapted to be folded down perpendicular with the plane of the top, and means for securing said end exte'n sions of the top to said side extensions when the tray is set up; the parts being scored to adapt the tray to be folded into a fiat package; and preferably my foldable vendtray is made of a unitary blank com- Application filed April 19,

to foldable', Portable 7 simil ar, mate- I 1928. seriai'uo. 271,215.

prising threeparallel foldable sections separated by scores from each other.

Full details of the principle of construction embodied in my invention are hereinafter describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:

Fig. 1 shows my collapsible holder assembled, ready for use and illustrates a number of ice cream cones contained therein;

Fig. 2 shows my invention after it has been cut from a flat sheet of cardboard and scored; A A I Fig. 3 shows my folded flatready and shipped;

Fig. 4 shows a central transverse section of my vending tray when set up and illustrates the simple means provided for holding it in such position; and

invention assembled and to be packed in bundles Fig. 5 shows a section taken centrally through Fig. 3 and illustrates by broken lines the successive positions assumed by my tray while being set up.

A sheet of light cardboard or similar material is cut or punched to form a blank a, Fig. 2, in which circular article receiving holes I) are provided, end portions 6 and end extensions cl, also arcuate slits p.

The blank a1 is then scored transversely as at j and j to make the end portions 6 and end extensions 03 conveniently foldable.

A longitudinal score f is provided along the outer side of the portionc in which the holes I) have been cut, separating a marginal strip 9 to which adhesive may be applied. Another parallel score 71. is provided,

which separates the'po'rtion c from'the remainder of the sheet a.

A central parallel score 2' is provided in the portion 0 between the scores f and Zr and a score is is provided, parallel with the scores and h and arranged centrally through the main portion of the sheet. A finger hole Z is provided which is bisected by the score 76. v

As the first step in assembling, the sheet (0 is folded on the scores 71 and 7c and the marginal strip 9 is fixed by adhesive or other suitable means, to the inside of the opposite margin w of the sheet a as shown shown in Figs. 3 and 4. At the end of this step my'holder will shown in Fig. 3, and may be conveniently packed in bundles for shipment.

For the last step, whenmy vending tray is to be used for distributing cones filled be f at in the form as posed of two form lateral supports for maintaining my vending tray in an upright position as when n-rai'iged on a counter and the end extensions 6 being locked in the slits 39 form locking means for holding my tray in its assembled form either as a display stand or tray for distributing ice cream cone-s or ither salable articles through a crowd or the like. i

I claim:

1. A foldable vending tray comprising a body made of a sheet of material and comangle in cross section, the sides provided with integral end extensions adapted to be folded perpendicular with the planes of the sides and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top provided with article receiving holes, the parts being scored toadapt the tray to be folded into a flat package as described and means for se curing the tray in its set up state.

2. A foldable vending tray comprising a body made of a sheet of material and composed of two sides and a top making a triangle in cross section, the sides provided with integral end extensions adapted to be folded perpendicular with theplanes of the sides and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top providedwith ir tegral end extensions adapted to be folded perpendicular with the plane of the top, the top provided with article receiving holes. means for securing said end extensions of the top to said end portions when the tray is set up and the parts being scored to adapt the tray to be folded into a fiat package as described.

3. A foldable vending unitary blank comprising three parallel foldable sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and constituting the sides and the top of the body of the tray, the side sections of the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal'with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top body-section provided with an article receiving hole or holes and means for securing the tray in its set up state.

at. A foldable vending tray consisting of a unitary blank comprising three parallel tray consisting of a sides and a top making a tria foldable sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and constitutingthe sides and the top of the body of the tray, the side sections of the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top body section provided with an article receiving hole or holes, means for securing the tray in its setup state and the topsection provided with a scoreon its longitudinal central line permitting the folding of the tray into a flat package. I

A foldable vending tray consisting of a unitary blank having parallel scores made thereon dividing the blank into three foldable, parallel sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and constituting the sides and the top of I the body of the tray, the side sections of the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top body section provided with an article receivinghole or holes and means for se curing the tray in its set up state.

6. A foldable vending tray consisting of a unitary blank having parallel scores made thereon dividing the blank into three foldable, parallel sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and constituting the sides and the top of the body of the tray, the side sections of the tray body provided withfoldable end portions adapted with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top body section provided with an article receiving hole or holes, means for securing the tray in its set up state and the top section provided with a score on its longitudinal central line permitting the folding of the tray into a flat package.

7. A foldable vending tray consisting of a unitary blank having parallel scores made thereon dividing the blank into three foldable, parallel sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and con stituting the sides and the top of "the body of the tray, the side sections of the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal with the plane of the sides, and constituting thesupporting element of the tray,tl1e top section provided with foldable end extensions, the top body section provided withan article receiving hole or holes, means for fastening the'free edges of the adjacent sections of the body together and means for securing the extensions of the top section of the tray body to the foldable extensions of its sides. 8. A foldable vending tray consisting of a unitary blank having parallel scores made to be arranged normal thereon dividing the blank into three foldable, parallel sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and. constituting the sides and the top of the body of the tray, the side sections oi? the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top section provided with foldable end extensions, the top body section provided with an article receiving hole or holes, one of the free longitudinal edges of the body sec tions being provided with a lip for fastening to the free longitudinal edge of the adjacent body section and means for securing the extensions of the top section of the tray body to the foldable extensions of its sides.

9. A foldable vending tray consisting of a unitary blankhaving parallel scores made thereon dividing the blank into three fold able, parallel sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and constituting the sides and the top of the body of the tray, the side sections 01 the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top section provided wit-h foldable end extensions, the top body section provided with an article receiving hole or holes, means for fastening the free edges of the adjacent sections of the body together and the said end exten-' sions of the tray body provided with slits for receiving the corners of the end extensions of the said top section.

10. A foldable vending tray consisting of a unitary blank having parallel scores made thereon dividing the blank into three foldable, parallel sections adapted to be arranged to form a triangle in cross section and constituting the sides and the top of the body of the tray, the side sections of the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top section provided with foldable end extensions, said end portions of the body sides having portions cut away in alinement with the fold connecting the tray body sides whereby the bases of these extensions will be normal withranged to form a triangle in cross section and constituting the sides and the top of the body of the tray, the side sections of the tray body provided with foldable end portions adapted to be arranged normal with the plane of the sides, and constituting the supporting element of the tray, the top section provided with foldable end extensions, said end portions of the body sides having portions cut away in alinement with the fold connecting the tray body sides whereby the bases of these extensions will be normal with the perpendicular of the said triangle formed by the tray body when set up, the top body section provided with an article receiving hole or holes, means for fastening the free edges of the adjacent sections of the body together, means for securing the extensions of the top section of the tray body to the foldable extensions of its sides and the top section provided with a score on its longitudinal central line permitting the folding of the trav into a flat package,

CHARLES H. GOODYEAR. 

